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Living Free - September 30, 2011

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3 NLT

Thoughts for Today

The Bible says that God is our father. Does this make you feel secure and loved—or does it stir up feelings of fear and dread?

To some people, a father image is one of love and safety. But to many, the word father brings up painful thoughts of abuse, neglect or other negative memories. If this is your experience, thinking of God as your father is probably not a positive thing. These feelings and reactions need to be addressed if you are to heal from past abuse or neglect and be able to fully embrace the care and love of your heavenly Father.

It is vital to face your feelings and allow the Lord to hold your hand and comfort you. As you face the anger, hurt and pain caused by a negative father figure, God will be able to replace these emotions with his love. The result is healing.

Consider this …

Allowing God to be your father makes it possible for him to be your healer. It opens you up to forgiveness, repentance and trust. You will be able to enter into his rest and be comforted.

You can begin this process today by acknowledging your negative father images and the reason behind them. Then allow your heavenly Father to help you forgive, to receive forgiveness for the resentment and to receive his rest and comfort.

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for any resentment I have felt toward my father. Help me to forgive him for the past. Help me to better understand that you are my heavenly Father full of mercy and the source of comfort. Teach me to trust you more and to rest in your peace. In Jesus' name…

Presents a strong message of Christ as healer of abusive relationships

Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

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